O.C. Catholics celebrate Pope Francis

ORANGE – The fragrance of incense filled the large sanctuary at Holy Family Roman Catholic Church, where hundreds gathered Saturday for a special celebratory Thanksgiving Mass in honor of the newly-elected Pope Francis, the first Jesuit and Latin American pontiff.

The mass, presided over by Bishop Kevin Vann, had an air of hope and positivity, said Sarah Sandoval of Santa Ana.

"As Catholics, we are excited to welcome Pope Francis," she said. "He is from this part of the world, but he is everybody's pope. We are going to pray for him because he cannot do this alone."

Bishop Vann during his homily said that Pope Francis or Papa Francesco made an instant communication with his worldwide flock.

"This is indeed a great day of rejoicing for our Hispanic brothers and sisters, as we now have the Bishop of Rome, The Vicar of Christ a 'Hispano' from the Americas," he said. "I would say that many of you, like the group that I was with on Wednesday, were joined together in anticipation and joy in front of our television sets waiting for the words 'Habemus Papam,' and meeting Papa Francesco right away, as it were, through the blessing of our instant communications."

Bishop Vann revisited the pope's first homily to the Cardinals, where he talked about "journeying, building and professing."

"That is exactly what we are doing here these days in our Diocese," he said. "Especially in these days as we enter the chapter of our lives with the future Christ Cathedral, is this not a time of journeying, building and professing?"

Vann was referring to the Diocese of Orange's soon-to-be new home, the glass sanctuary in Garden Grove, built by the Rev. Robert H. Schuller, formerly known as the Crystal Cathedral.

Wally Drazba of Orange, a parishioner at Holy Family since 1958, said Pope Francis' love of the poor touches him.

"I pray that he is able to bring us all together," he said.

Georgeann Lovett, a member at Holy Family, said she is delighted that he chose the name Francis, after St. Francis of Assisi.

"It speaks volumes about his mind-set," she said. "He has great administrative skills."

Lovett said while people in the United States worry about issues such as the ordination of woman and gay marriage, the church in other parts of the world is dealing with the martyrdom of Catholics and other Christian denominations.

"Those countries are dealing with life and death," she said. "Our church refers to people as the 'image of God' and as such we all have dignity. The Pope's focus is the dignity of people."

Rosemarie Driskill said she is not expecting too many changes.

"I think all these changes people are hoping will happen are not going to happen because this is religious dogma that we have to follow," she said. "That is something that does not change."

Bishop Vann said after the mass that he plans to visit Rome in April and hopes to greet Pope Francis.

"A pope from the Americas has resonated with folks here especially in the Hispanic community," said the bishop, who also spoke in Spanish during the mass. "He faces the same challenges. The substance of faith doesn't change. The challenge is always how we respond to the changes around us."

Polo Gutierrez of Anaheim said the pope's nationality or race doesn't matter to him.